Peer Pressure: the silent killer

You often hear your parents and elders tell you that the people around you define your success or that the friends you choose to be with make or break you.

We might not admit to this but subconsciously what our friend group does reflects on us as well.

Ask yourself or ask around a couple of questions. Why or when did you start drinking? Smoking? A majority will give you an answer saying all my friends were doing it so I did or my friends got me into it. This is giving into peer pressure. Many people get into things only because they don’t want to be the odd one out or be a labeled outcast. Everyone wants to fit in and sometimes at the cost of something else.

Just trying a drink or a puff isn’t exactly the problem. The problem lies in the fact that most get hooked on to these habits and more often than not it moves on to trying drugs.

“Just trying” turns into substance abuse for many and it all starts with peer pressure.

There are a lot of positives influences your friend group can be, from making you study to getting you to play a sport or join a club or even pursue your dream; the good qualities are in plenty.

But, as always, one rotten apple spoils the basket and that remains the case. Unfortunately, the negatives are talked about far more than the positives and maybe the bad is far easier to adapt to because it doesn’t require hard work or perseverance, just blind following.

Why do kids succumb?

Some kids want to fit in while others are just curious to see what it is that everyone’s talking about. The worry that one will be an outcast forces some while some others are afraid of being bullied or made fun of.

Peer pressure gets the better of kids because they think all the “cool kids” are doing it and forces them to leave their common sense and better judgment behind.

Don’t succumb! Instead, stay confident and be yourself. You be the judge and decide what’s right or wrong and pave your own way to success.

Peer pressure is one of the leading factors contributing to mental health issues amongst youngsters like anxiety and depression. Study also shows that peer pressure is the reason behind rise in teen pregnancy and body shaming as well.

If you think your child is under peer pressure, start communicating with them and boost their confidence and self-respect before things go out of hand. This will ensure that they aren’t victimized.

Peer pressure can have great positive impacts, choose the right friends but more importantly, make the right choices.

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